HAMILTON Kangaroos fell short of a grand final spot by a single goal in their Western Victoria Female Football League qualifying final against Horsham Demons at D.C. Farren Oval on Sunday.

The Kangaroos had to fight all the way against the Demons, as the teams shared the spoils in the first quarter by kicking a goal apiece in a tight start to the game with neither team allowing the other any advantage.

Horsham came out in the second term looking to attack and soon had two more majors on the board, keeping the Kangaroos scoreless to lead by 13 points at the main break.

The players came back determined to follow their coach’s instructions and the results started to flow, as the ball continually moved into the Kangaroos forward line.

Goals to Caroline McGrath, Mimi Chun and Chelsea Wain came quickly, as the Kangaroos found their desire for the ball and by attacking their opponent, they found that there was a chink in the armour as the Demons failed to stem the flow of the Kangaroos game plan.

While playing their way back into the match through the efforts of the midfield who fed the ball to the forwards, the backs also played well, keeping Horsham scoreless with scores tied at the final change.

Horsham flooded its back line to halt the momentum of the Kangaroos and the blue and white had their chances but failed to take their opportunities.

Horsham would finally post the crucial major that would prove to be the difference between the teams during that last quarter and when the final siren sounded the minor premiers won, 4.2 (26) to 3.2 (20).

“We match up really well with the South girls and in our two games this year it has been one apiece,” Kangaroos coach, Pat Sherlock said.

“Both games have been won by large margins, we were caught out in the first game with their physicality, but we addressed that immediately after the game and we reversed the first result.

“I was happy with the way they played against Horsham, but we failed to capitalize on the opportunities we created.

“When we had the ball, we were in control, but we were reactive without the ball when we should have been proactive.

“There were the usual sore bodies to come from the game but no injuries to report,” Sherlock said.

The Kangaroos will now play South Warrnambool in the Sunday’s preliminary final at Tyrendarra.